Primary-source based, ready to use lesson plans for history, government, and civics classrooms

Full texts of primary sources for U.S. History, Government, and Civics classrooms.

News articles relevant to topics in U.S. History, Government, and Civics classrooms.

Our video playlists are a great way to introduce yourself to the wide variety of video content we offer.

Our Fabric of History podcast weaves together U.S. history, Founding Principles, and what all of this means to us today.

Bios of 25 of the men and women who shaped the United States.

Has the American nation lived up to the ideals of its experiment in liberty? Invite your students to explore the rich tapestry of American history and actively participate in the ongoing experiment that defines our nation's identity. Help your students gain insights into the nature of the American experiment - the ongoing quest for a more perfect union.

How does a system of self-governance support American ideals?

Character, History, and Civics for Younger Learners.

How can you help your students develop critical thinking skills? Explore Landmark Supreme Court cases that changed history. Give your students tools to evaluate the Court's rulings and their impact on American society. Analyze primary sources spanning five centuries--colonial codes of law, the Federalist Papers, the Constitution, contemporary photographs, case law, oral arguments, the Court's majority and dissenting opinions, and others. Each Document Based Question (DBQ) will lead them towards an understanding of the role played by the Court and an assessment of its decisions. Each DBQ also contains a section called "The Issue Endures," which highlights current applications of the case issue.

How did the suffragists map out a pathway for change to achieve the vote through the Nineteenth Amendment?

What are the powers delegated to the Executive Branch and how have constitutional principles have applied throughout U.S. History? Examine these questions with your students and equip them to be more informed citizens and critical students of history and current events. The curriculum is made possible by The National Endowment for the Humanities and Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr.

How did the Founders intend the legislative branch of government to operate? Through primary source analysis and engaging activities, examine the purpose of a legislature, the design of the U.S Congress, its powers, its history and the reality of how Congress works today with your students through these lessons.

How do the Founding documents connect to our civic values and the fundamental right of citizenship?

What is the proper balance between liberty and security? Using primary source documents, writing assignments, discussion prompts and other activities, students will explore this difficult question. This curriculum examines the balance between liberty and security over the last 60 years.

Who were the Founders of the United States of America? Introduce students to twenty-four individuals who had a direct impact on the founding of our constitutional government. Explore the lives and ideas of the Founders, analyze their writings, and appreciate each Founder's role in shaping our government.

Preserving the Bill of Rights teaches students Constitutional principles by examining primary source documents and significant Supreme Court cases. In addition, each unit features expanded classroom activities engaging students with the Bill of Rights and the responsibilities of citizenship. Students will understand the connection between current events and the Bill of Rights when they participate in activities such as writing letters to their elected representatives; serving in a mock jury; creating public service announcements; and writing model laws.

What is the importance of religious liberty in America? How does the Constitution protect it and what is the reason it is significant today? Examine these questions with students so they can see the model religious liberty in America has become for other nations and is an ongoing experiment.

What happens to a republic if virtue is not practiced?

What do students need to understand about the history of immigration to be informed for it's modern debates? Examine the important story of immigration in the United States by reviewing the nature of immigration and giving students tools to analyze the history of immigration both through the social history and the legal and policy debates from the Founding until the present. With this context in mind, students are better able to engage in the modern debates regarding immigration. Students will understand the factors that led early immigrants to the United States and the challenges they faced upon arrival. They will analyze how American lawmakers viewed immigrants and the evolving nature of immigration policy. Finally, students will use this knowledge to prepare and present their own plan for immigration policies.

Engaging and relevant for students and teachers.

Short, classroom ready videos covering U.S. History, Government, and Civics topics.

20+ minute interviews with modern authors and scholars on topics of U.S. History and Civics.

Dive into some of the most important speeches and documents from United States history. These videos dissect these documents, define key terms, and explore the lasting impact of the featured documents.

The start of the school year prompts Mary, Gary, and Eryn to reflect on the broader concept of education and how schooling has evolved throughout history. They'll explore how educational structures reflected the times during which they were implemented and what modern-day schooling says about our values today. Has the purpose of education changed over time? And what should the future of education look like?

For our first ever Fabric of History interview, Mary brings fellow BRI staff member Tony Williams on to discuss his book The Pox and the Covenant, a fascinating look at Boston’s 1721 smallpox epidemic and the far-reaching effects it had on colonial society and the relationship between science and religion. How did Puritan minister Cotton Mather and others employ new scientific methods to mitigate the epidemic? And what unlikely role did a young Benjamin Franklin have in response to them?

Does democracy always foster moral success, or can the systems in place actually help those with devious intentions? To kick off our first episode of season three, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore these questions by examining the life of Boss Tweed and why the backdrop of Gilded Age New York City was a perfect setup for the corrupt politician to seize power. How did Tweed manipulate each sector of society--from the police to groups of immigrants--to control an entire city?

Gary, Mary, and Eryn reflect on a particularly important moment in the civil rights movement, the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. They'll explore how the events of Selma fit into the bigger picture of the civil rights movement and the passage of the Voting Rights Act. What can this march teach us about the significance of turning points in a movement? And what lessons from it are still very relevant today?

With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions fast approaching, Mary, Gary, and Eryn take a look at the history behind these pivotal electoral systems. From the elitist presidential nominating processes that defined much of the 19th and 20th centuries, to the more inclusive systems of the modern era, the roles of party caucuses, primaries, and conventions have shifted considerably over time. How have today’s elections come to represent the voice of the people?

Join Mary, Gary, and Eryn as they choose to go to the moon. They'll discuss the true motivations behind the famous "space race," the future of humans in space, and reveal which one of them would make a terrible lab partner in the process.

We hear the phrase "The American Dream" all the time, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Fabric of History, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore this question by tracing the origins of one of the most successful families in American history, the Vanderbilts. What do the legacies of some of its most prominent members teach us about integrity and human nature?

The 4th has many different meanings for many different groups in America. Some see it as a time to celebrate with barbecues, others ask deep questions about the prevalence of slavery conflicting with the ideas of freedom for all presented in the Declaration of Independence, many do both! Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore these themes and more.

A prognostication opinion game that surfaces the dynamic between The Federalists, who drafted the Constitution as the highest law of the land, and the Anti-Federalists who wanted to ensure that the people had an individual Bill of Rights.

A table top game the explores the interplay between private citizens, public officials, and resource management and how they shape the effectiveness of civil society.

A transactional card game where players try to position themselves appropriately for each round.

A team-based wordplay communication game that challenges delegates to interpret constituent and private interest in a way that keeps them happy. Players ultimately must negotiate while competing to draft the most effective bills for their side. Failing to do so will result in getting voted out of office. 

A judging and deductive reasoning game that explores the concept of analyzing a case and reapplying it elsewhere.

Based on the game Timeline by Frédéric Henry, this game contains cards that focus on key dates in American history between 1020 and 2008. About the Game: Game can be played with 2 or more players. Gameplay takes 10-20 minutes per round. Available in a print-and-play version via the Download button or for purchase through the BRI Store.

An escape room style activity to help students understand the Colonial Era.

A dice game that allows students to understand the various groups that moved Westward and the choices they had to make along the way.

An interactive that helps students explore Founding Principles and Civic Virtues.

An interactive that helps students explore the timeline of events between the years 1781-1787 under the Articles of Confederation.

An interactive that helps students explore the timeline of the Constitutional Convention.

An infographic that explains the responsibilities of each branch of government.

An interactive representation that highlights separate and shared responsibilities of local, state, and national government.

Student Handouts that detail the steps that must occur for a bill to become a law under the U.S. Constitution.